A. Basis For Water Service Charges: The water service charge for the use of and for service supplied by the water facilities of the village shall consist of a monthly user rate, a basic user charge, a debt service charge, and a capital improvement charge.
1. Monthly User Rate: The monthly user rate is levied upon all users to recover the operation, maintenance, plus replacement (OM&R) costs and shall be based on water usage as recorded by water meters. The monthly user rate shall be determined as provided in section 9-4-13 of this chapter and shall increase by two percent (2%) on May 1, 2013, and each year thereafter unless otherwise amended by the village. The monthly user rate may be calculated as follows:
a. Estimate the annual water volume.
b. Estimate the projected annual revenue required to operate and maintain the water facilities, including a replacement fund for the year, for all works categories.
c. Compute costs per one thousand (1,000) gallons.
2. Basic User Charge: The basic user charge is levied upon all users of the water system to assist in the costs for the operation and maintenance of the water system.
3. Debt Service Charge: The debt service charge may be computed by apportioning the annual debt service as a fixed charge per billing period per section 9-4-13 of this chapter.
4. Capital Improvement Charge: The capital improvement charge is levied upon users to provide for capital improvements, extensions or reconstruction of the waterworks. The capital improvement charge is computed by apportioning the annual amount to be accrued as a fixed charge per billing period per section 9-4-13 of this chapter. This capital improvement charge shall be deposited by the treasurer or his/her designee in a separate and distinct account. One dollar ($1.00) of this capital improvement charge shall be deposited into an account to build a fund for future capital improvements and shall only be utilized by specific authorization of the village board. (Ord. 2013-17, 4-25-2013)
B. Measurement Of Flow: The volume of flow used for computing basic user charges shall be the metered water consumption read to the lowest even increments of one thousand (1,000) gallons.
1. If the person procures any part or all of his water from sources other than the public waterworks system, the person shall install and maintain, at his expense, water meters of a type approved by the village board for the purpose of determining the volume of water obtained from these other sources.
2. Devices for measuring the volume of water may be required by the village board if these volumes cannot otherwise be determined from the metered water consumption records.
3. Metering devices for determining the volume shall be installed, owned, and maintained by the person. Following approval and installation, such meters may not be removed, unless service is canceled, without the consent of the village board. (Ord. 1999-11, 10-4-1999)
C. Rates And Charges Established:
1. Monthly User Rates: See section 9-4-13 of this chapter.
2. Basic User Charge: There shall be and there is hereby established a basic user charge which shall be determined as provided in section 9-4-13 of this chapter.
3. Debt Service Charge: There shall be and there is hereby established a debt service charge which shall be determined as provided in section 9-4-13 of this chapter.
4. Capital Improvement Charge: There shall be and there is hereby established a capital improvement charge which shall be determined as provided in section 9-4-13 of this chapter.
5. Garbage Collection Fee: Any property in the village corporate limits that has an active water service to the property shall be required to pay a fee for garbage collection as established in chapter 5 of this title. (Ord. 2013-17, 4-25-2013)
D. Computation Of Water Service Charge: The water service charge shall be computed by the following formula:
CW = CC + CD + CM + (Vu-X)CU
Where: | ||
CW | = | Amount of water service charge ($) per billing period |
CC | = | Capital improvement charge (subsection C4 of this section) |
CD | = | Debt service charge (subsection C3 of this section) |
CM | = | Minimum charge for operation, maintenance and replacement (subsection C1 of this section) |
Vu | = | Water volume for the billing period |
X | = | Allowable consumption in gallons for the minimum charge (subsection C1 of this section) |
CU | = | Basic user charge for operation, maintenance and replacement (subsection C2 of this section) |
(Ord. 1999-11, 10-4-1999)
E. Bulk Sale Of Water: Bulk water sold to tank wagons loading water at a location provided by the village shall be charged at the rate determined in section 9-4-13 of this chapter. (Ord. 1999-11, 10-4-1999; amd. 2011 Code)
F. New Construction: Upon application by any owner or builder in preparation for new construction through the public works superintendent, a permit for temporary water use without a meter will be granted for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days by payment of a fee, in advance, as provided in section 9-4-13 of this chapter. Such permits shall be limited to the preliminary construction and installation of the meter and will be required as soon as building progress permits. Any new construction of multiple dwellings, mobile home courts and residence dwellings will have individual meters from the effective date hereof. (Ord. 2010-22, 6-21-2010)
G. Permit System For Adjusting Water Charges:
1. Water meter readings shall be assumed to be accurate and reflect actual usage by the user except in cases where the user meets the following criteria in which case a water usage adjustment may be made:
a. Application For Water Usage Adjustment: All persons requesting an adjustment to their water usage must complete and submit a "water usage adjustment permit" application subject to the following criteria and receive a permit issued by the village for a water usage adjustment:
(1) Information Required: The applicant shall provide the following information:
(A) Name of applicant;
(B) Address of applicant;
(C) Reason for water usage adjustment;
(D) Date/period requested for water usage adjustment;
(E) Signature of applicant; and
(2) Number Restricted: A person may apply for and receive no more than two (2) 1-month permits/adjustments in a calendar year;
(3) Increase Above Normal Usage: There must be an abnormal and unexplained increase in water usage such that the request for adjustment for any given month is twenty thousand (20,000) gallons above the average of the twelve (12) immediately preceding months, unless the adjustment requested is for two (2) consecutive months in which case the request for adjustment shall be twenty thousand (20,000) gallons above the average of the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the first month of adjustment requested. This increase above normal usage does not include increased usage caused by, but not limited to, the following: filling pools or hot tubs, watering lawns or gardens, or any other intended usage; and
(A) Users of the water system that experience increases above normal usage may request and cause the Village to test and replace their water meter. In the event the meter tests as working within the American Water Works Association (AWWA) specifications or factory specifications, that user shall be charged for the replacement meter and test on their water bill. In the event the meter tests not within those specifications, that user shall not be responsible for or charged for the replacement meter or the test, and shall have their water usage reduced in the manner set forth in this section 9-4-3(G)(1)(a)(3). Users requesting such a test may request and receive a copy of the test results.
(4) Approval Of Permit: The "water usage adjustment permit" application must be approved by the superintendent of public works.
(5) Rate Adjusted: In the event that the permit is approved, the village office staff shall adjust the water usage for the period approved. For the purposes of this subsection G1a(5), an adjustment shall be calculated by averaging the water usage for the previous twelve (12) months immediately preceding the requested adjusted month and subtracting the water usage above that averaged usage (i.e., July through June average usage = 10,000 gallons, this year's July usage is 30,000 gallons. Water adjusted by subtracting 10,000 gallons from water usage).
H. Review Of Charges: The adequacy of the water service charge shall be reviewed, not less often than annually, by certified public accountants for the Village, in their annual audit report. The water service charge shall be revised periodically to reflect a change in local capital costs or OM&R costs.
(Ord. 2013-8, 2-21-2013; amd. Ord. 2020-57, 10-15-2020)